FROCAST

J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive [Review]

2014 Forrest Hills Drive is the third studio album by Jermaine Cole otherwise known as J. Cole. This album is dropping under Roc Nation, Dreamville and Columbia records. The name of this album is the address that Cole grew up in Fayetville, North Carolina. He bought this house after it was foreclosed from his mom years ago and is now renting it out for people in Fayetville.

Before I even start my review of this album, let me state this now. I love J. Cole and the whole Dreamville group and everything they stand for. I personally think J. Cole is the best rapper out right now, yes that means better than Kendrick. With that said, I’ll try to keep my bias to a minimum.

1. IntroProduced by J. Cole
“Intro” starts off with Cole getting super soulful here. The repeated line, “Do you wanna be happy?”, shows what a common theme of this album is gonna be. He clearly is thinking about what brings happiness and how you do get it. Nothing too special here, just a short soulful intro and something we’re used to with Cole.

2. January 28thProduced by J. Cole
This is the Cole I and every other Cole fan loves. Another soulful beat, with great lyrics. He talks about how he came up and highlights some of the problems with being a Black man in America while using the chorus to bring it all back to him. He’s very focused on not selling himself out. BUT there’s something different in this song that we don’t normally hear from Cole. Cole is name dropping at the end of this song:

Or you might be Drizzy Drake or Kendrick Lamar But check your birth date nigga, you ain’t the God Nah you ain’t the God Nigga, Cole the God January 28th

We don’t normally hear this from Cole. He’s saying he is the best now, but just wait there’s more to come on what Cole believes is now his time to claim the throne.

3. Wet DreamzProduced by J. Cole
￼One of Coles biggest talents as an MC is his ability to storytell. That talent is on full display throughout this entire song. The song talks about how he lost his virginity and the feelings he felt. The coolest thing about this track is how honest Cole is with himself. He makes his music for his fans and he feels so comfortable around them. It’s cool to see an artist be so honest in his music, this isn’t a braggadocious song talking about how he gets so many hoes. No, Cole is opening up in ways that not too many rappers do.

4. 03′ AdolescenceProduced by Willie B.
This song interpolates “Runnin” by Biggie & 2Pac. Again Cole is showing his storytelling ability. The beat is dope and is verses seem so realistic. The last verse on this song is the best one of the whole song to me. It’ so real, it takes us back to in time when Cole was 18 and talking with one of his friends who was selling drugs to support his family at the time. Cole talks about how his friend reminded him how special of an opportunity he had to be going off to school and its cool to see how great Cole is at reminiscing and bringing up these real stories in his music.

5. A Tale of 2 CitiezProduced by Vinlyz
Something to bump your head to in the car or gym; the beat is crazyyyyyyy. Whatever that damn sound is in the background goes so well with this song. He’s talk about living in the Ville’ (Fayetville) and how he had big dreams of making it big. Dope beat, catchy lyrics, and great job from Cole. Run It!

6. Fire SquadProduced by Vinlyz
Okay, this song is just… ahh. I’ve been a J. Cole head for a longgg time now, before Friday Night Lights. I’ve listened to so many of his songs but this is one is unlike the rest. Cole is actually talking shit here. First line in the first verse, “Ain’t no way around it no more, I am the greatest.” Cole’s intentions are clear here, he’s finally asserting his dominance as the top rapper out now. All three verses are incredible but the final one sticks out the most:

Listen History repeats itself and that’s just how it goes Same way that these rappers always bite each others flows Same thing that my nigga Elvis did with Rock n Roll Justin Timberlake, Eminem, and then Macklemore While silly niggas argue over who gon’ snatch the crown Look around, my nigga, white people have snatched the sound ￼This year I’ll prolly go to the awards dappered down Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile I’m just playin’, but all good jokes contain true shit Same rope you climb up on, they’ll hang you with But not Jermaine, my aim too sick I bang nigga, I came to bring the pain my brain too quick You see how I maneuver this game, I ain’t stupid I recognize that life is a dream, and I dream lucid And break the chains and change minds, one verse at a time And claim 2-6, and fuck it, if the shoe fits Who’s the king?

Just incredible…

7. St. TropezProduced by J. Cole
An abrupt difference from the previous song, but again a cool song. St. Tropez has been quite often referenced throughout Hip-Hop as a desirable place for rappers to go. The hook is referring to Cole’s career and how his career is on this arch and he’s on the rise. He samples “That’s All Right With Me” by Esther Philllips.

8. G.O.M.D.Produced by J. Cole
I love this song, it’s one of my favorites on this album. This song is for all of his haters hence the name of the song (“G.et O.ff M.y D.ick”). He switches up the song a lot not only addressing the haters he has but to bring light to how fake people are now. He talks about how he feels actual emotions and how he has never had true love but people don’t want to talk about that they just want to be fake.

9. No Role ModelzProduced by Phonix Beats
Alright this is my favorite song on the album, no question. It’s clear not only was Cole focusing on making an honest album but a socially conscious one and he often addresses problems he see’s in society. Throughout the song he talks about how as a Black community we lack role models that aren’t rappers or athletes. In the wake of the recent deaths to Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Trayvon Martin I think this song is needed. Cole is trying to uplift the spirits of Black people by bringing up the problems he see’s. Also the diss to George Bush towards the end is dope, you have to catch it.

10. HelloProduced by J. Cole
Cole is such an honest artist by bringing his fans to a past relationship of his. As a true day one fan I appreciate songs like this, to see one of my favorite artist be so honest with himself and pour that through his songs is dope to me.

11. ApparentlyProduced by J. Cole
Cole is portraying his dreams through this song and gets soulful like we know him to do. He has a really catchy hook here and the way he switches his flow up at the end shows his lyrical ability.

12. Love YourzProduced by Illmind, Cardiak, & CritCal
This beat is great and Cole is again reflecting on the struggles he had growing up. He talks about how important it is to realize how important family and love is. Typical Cole on his deep soulful lyrical stuff.

13. Note to SelfProduced by J. Cole
I think this outro may be the longest ever on a rap album. Cole takes a good chunk of this song to address his fans and how he feels about the album and what it means to him. He treats it like the credits but all true Dreamville fans will care to stay for these credits.

Bottom Line:
One of the illest parts of this album is how it came about. If you haven’t already you should all take a look at this video. It talks about how this album even came about and really allows people to see Cole in a new light. There were no singles to this album, no interviews, just a listening session for the fans in his home and that’s it. Cole wants music to go back to being about just that the music not the chains and cars and clothes and women that don’t matter. He wants to portray the real and this album does that.

Cole is one of the realest rappers out there to me and the best. His song, “Fire Squad” has him take the crown and at the same time throw it away saying that there is no king in Hip-Hop. Interesting take on it all, but I think all true Cole fans are happy to say that Cole has finally asserted himself as the most dominant rapper out there. Now the rating… With the recent buzz on the site and the questionable rating of BIG K.R.I.T.’s album, I want to give this a five everything about it says classic to me. The promotion of it or (lack of it) is genius. The fact that you put this album on and the only button you’ll press is the one to turn it up or a rewind button; there’s no skips at all. So to me this album is the next closest thing to classic. Thanks Krit!

No questions, K.R.I.T. delivered a classic. As to this album, really good, great even, but I don’t think Cole went beyond Born Sinner, which was gonna be hard because so close to a classic. He’s still centimeters away from the brass ring.

No questions, K.R.I.T. delivered a classic. As to this album, really good, great even, but I don’t think Cole went beyond Born Sinner, which was gonna be hard because so close to a classic. He’s still centimeters away from the brass ring.

I’m gonna go ahead and say it, and I only bring this up because it’s mentioned at the end of this review: 2014 Forest Hills Drive is way better that Cadillactica.

And that’s cool because both albums are good and it’s a great thing that two young rappers like Big K.R.I.T. & J. Cole are trying to establish their place in Hip-Hop. But the thing is, Big K.R.I.T. on Cadillactica is trying to get his name bigger and J. Cole on 2014 Forest Hills Drive is just trying to make good music and that’s it.

Nah, it wasn’t better than Cadillactica. Almost every critic would agree too. J. Cole’s album was wildly flawed. Maybe J. Cole is more relatable, but KRIT is by far more original and more distinguishable. Coles album is hardly even a 2014 highlight

Dope review fam. I’d be willing to bet that the last .5 is due to him being new and not wanting to come in tossing around 5 stars. It took us YEARS to give out our first one. I wouldn’t argue down a 5 on this. It’s a great album and agreed, better than Cadillactica

I’m gonna go ahead and say it, and I only bring this up because it’s mentioned at the end of this review: 2014 Forest Hills Drive is way better that Cadillactica.

And that’s cool because both albums are good and it’s a great thing that two young rappers like Big K.R.I.T. & J. Cole are trying to establish their place in Hip-Hop. But the thing is, Big K.R.I.T. on Cadillactica is trying to get his name bigger and J. Cole on 2014 Forest Hills Drive is just trying to make good music and that’s it.

Nah, it wasn’t better than Cadillactica. Almost every critic would agree too. J. Cole’s album was wildly flawed. Maybe J. Cole is more relatable, but KRIT is by far more original and more distinguishable. Coles album is hardly even a 2014 highlight

Dope review fam. I’d be willing to bet that the last .5 is due to him being new and not wanting to come in tossing around 5 stars. It took us YEARS to give out our first one. I wouldn’t argue down a 5 on this. It’s a great album and agreed, better than Cadillactica

I can’t lie, I gotta give him credit. I don’t like Cole’s music that much and I almost didn’t listen, but I actually found it to be worth listening to since Friday Night Lights. K.R.I.T.’s album was just as impressive. This had a better direction though. I am now back in tune with Cole. 4/5.

I can’t lie, I gotta give him credit. I don’t like Cole’s music that much and I almost didn’t listen, but I actually found it to be worth listening to since Friday Night Lights. K.R.I.T.’s album was just as impressive. This had a better direction though. I am now back in tune with Cole. 4/5.

SO for all the people saying this is a classic, tell me why? People keep saying Cole is so introspective here, when is he not? Firing Squad is cool but not the true ether everyone says it is, you cant make a scathing critique but then half cop out by say I’m just kidding, even if you follow it up with even jokes have truth in them. Again, I think it’s a solid album, a really good one even. But I think what helped Cole the most here is the landscape it came out in. Rap continually getting white-washed, media celebrating white rappers over black ones, and a whole lotta cultural appropriation going on. Throw in Ferguson and the countries unrest and then Cole comes along with the balls to call out white folks, which I admit is HUGE. But that doesn’t make the ENTIRE CD unfallable. Lastly, you can’t have a classic cd with a 14 minute outro of just talking.

I haven’t said anything positive or negative about the album yet. I haven’t finished listening. But I asked the question because I didn’t know if you considered College Dropout a classic, so the length of the final song being an issue didn’t make sense to me.

I never said it was classic. It’s just said it was better than K.R.I.T.’s album which YOU rated classic (Which is cool because that’s your review/opinion).

2014 Forest Hills Drive has a more cohesive theme than Cadillactica which most of the time means a better album. It almost feels like Cole said stuff that K.R.I.T. wanted to say, only better (“January 28th” >”King of the South”). Cadillactica is a good album but to a lotta people like us that listened to both of these albums, Cadillactica became an afterthought after 2014 Forest Hills Drive dropped. Maybe that’s just society now, maybe not, but that seems to happen when somebody drops a good album and then right after another person drops a great album.

I don’t think this album or KRIT’s album should have been given a 5 star rating. I honestly would have given both of them a 4, but I’d give the edge to Cole’s album. Honestly, I felt like KRIT was slacking lyrically on a lot of songs on Cadillactica, I think all 4 of his mixtapes were better. There were certainly some amazing songs on there, but 5 stars just seems a bit too high to me. Also, the Mind Control hook IS FUCKING TERRIBLE.

If the only flaw you can find with Cole’s album is the outro, then it must be a pretty damn good album. It’s an outro, it’s not as if he threw some shout outs in the middle of the album and it messed up the cohesion of the album. Love Yours was obviously the albums true outro, as it wrapped up the themes discussed throughout the rest of the album.

SO for all the people saying this is a classic, tell me why? People keep saying Cole is so introspective here, when is he not? Firing Squad is cool but not the true ether everyone says it is, you cant make a scathing critique but then half cop out by say I’m just kidding, even if you follow it up with even jokes have truth in them. Again, I think it’s a solid album, a really good one even. But I think what helped Cole the most here is the landscape it came out in. Rap continually getting white-washed, media celebrating white rappers over black ones, and a whole lotta cultural appropriation going on. Throw in Ferguson and the countries unrest and then Cole comes along with the balls to call out white folks, which I admit is HUGE. But that doesn’t make the ENTIRE CD unfallable. Lastly, you can’t have a classic cd with a 14 minute outro of just talking.

I haven’t said anything positive or negative about the album yet. I haven’t finished listening. But I asked the question because I didn’t know if you considered College Dropout a classic, so the length of the final song being an issue didn’t make sense to me.

I never said it was classic. It’s just said it was better than K.R.I.T.’s album which YOU rated classic (Which is cool because that’s your review/opinion).

2014 Forest Hills Drive has a more cohesive theme than Cadillactica which most of the time means a better album. It almost feels like Cole said stuff that K.R.I.T. wanted to say, only better (“January 28th” >”King of the South”). Cadillactica is a good album but to a lotta people like us that listened to both of these albums, Cadillactica became an afterthought after 2014 Forest Hills Drive dropped. Maybe that’s just society now, maybe not, but that seems to happen when somebody drops a good album and then right after another person drops a great album.

I don’t think this album or KRIT’s album should have been given a 5 star rating. I honestly would have given both of them a 4, but I’d give the edge to Cole’s album. Honestly, I felt like KRIT was slacking lyrically on a lot of songs on Cadillactica, I think all 4 of his mixtapes were better. There were certainly some amazing songs on there, but 5 stars just seems a bit too high to me. Also, the Mind Control hook IS FUCKING TERRIBLE.

If the only flaw you can find with Cole’s album is the outro, then it must be a pretty damn good album. It’s an outro, it’s not as if he threw some shout outs in the middle of the album and it messed up the cohesion of the album. Love Yours was obviously the albums true outro, as it wrapped up the themes discussed throughout the rest of the album.

I’m not sure this is a classic album, but if someone called it a classic I wouldn’t argue with that point because of the quality of the music. If it passes the test of time it will be deemed as such. For people asking why is this a classic as compared to Cole’s other work it really is simple. For one, the production, in my opinion, is much more diverse but it still fits into a cohesive album. Secondly, Cole has never really been too far from a classic. He’s slightly improved and become a little nicer in many areas. He’s more confident (which you can hear in the lyrics), his production has improved, he’s added some singing to his arsenal, and most importantly he has gotten rid of some of those questionable bars “niggas think they the shit but can’t out fart me”.

I’m out of town so I probably won’t be included in this Second Opinion rating, but for me, this isn’t classic, yet. It doesn’t have that feel. It’s a high rated album, 4 or 4.5 feels fine to me. I haven’t listened to this album completely critically either so there’s that. There are a few moments on the album that aren’t up to par for me, but overall, I don’t feel the need to be or the ability to be completely immerrsed in it. He’s def spittin’ and giving us some great songs, but it’s not an instant classic to me. When I gave Life is Good a 5, Summer on Smash was the song that I didn’t like as much out the gate….that’s become one of the more enjoyable bangers on there for me. There are one or two songs on here that I am compelled to skip or feel like they don’t add anything to the album. That’s just my take.

As it stands this year, from the albums I’ve listened to, this is probably the 3rd best Hip Hop project I’ve listened to this year. Rapsody Ep is the first, RTJ2 is the second.

I’m not sure this is a classic album, but if someone called it a classic I wouldn’t argue with that point because of the quality of the music. If it passes the test of time it will be deemed as such. For people asking why is this a classic as compared to Cole’s other work it really is simple. For one, the production, in my opinion, is much more diverse but it still fits into a cohesive album. Secondly, Cole has never really been too far from a classic. He’s slightly improved and become a little nicer in many areas. He’s more confident (which you can hear in the lyrics), his production has improved, he’s added some singing to his arsenal, and most importantly he has gotten rid of some of those questionable bars “niggas think they the shit but can’t out fart me”.

I’m out of town so I probably won’t be included in this Second Opinion rating, but for me, this isn’t classic, yet. It doesn’t have that feel. It’s a high rated album, 4 or 4.5 feels fine to me. I haven’t listened to this album completely critically either so there’s that. There are a few moments on the album that aren’t up to par for me, but overall, I don’t feel the need to be or the ability to be completely immerrsed in it. He’s def spittin’ and giving us some great songs, but it’s not an instant classic to me. When I gave Life is Good a 5, Summer on Smash was the song that I didn’t like as much out the gate….that’s become one of the more enjoyable bangers on there for me. There are one or two songs on here that I am compelled to skip or feel like they don’t add anything to the album. That’s just my take.

As it stands this year, from the albums I’ve listened to, this is probably the 3rd best Hip Hop project I’ve listened to this year. Rapsody Ep is the first, RTJ2 is the second.

This shit reminds me of when people were coming at Jerm because he gave Ross’ album the same 4.5 rating that Eminem’s Relapse album got.. At the end of the day, album reviews should not be given in response to someone else’s opinion, especially not when there are so many reviewers. At the end of the day, whether the album gets a 4 or a 5, I always leave these reviews knowing that I can expect a great album, that’s what matters the most.

This shit reminds me of when people were coming at Jerm because he gave Ross’ album the same 4.5 rating that Eminem’s Relapse album got.. At the end of the day, album reviews should not be given in response to someone else’s opinion, especially not when there are so many reviewers. At the end of the day, whether the album gets a 4 or a 5, I always leave these reviews knowing that I can expect a great album, that’s what matters the most.

First off, i had a hard time reading this review without getting a “fanboy” “stan” feeling throughout the entire piece. That’s also coming from someone who would call J. Cole my favorite rapper out of all of the new school rappers.

But to everyone calling this LP classic i just can’t see it, after sitting with it for two weeks now. I think it’s a very good album, but for the second album in a row just fell short of classic material. Technically as a rapper, i’d say Jermaine is more sound of a lyricist then his peers, so even his B+ bars are better then everything else that’s dropped for the most part this year. The album is slightly underwhelming to me,and after each listen i felt like something was missing. That was until i heard the extra verse he performed on Letterman, no exaggeration here when i say that, that verse was better then the entire album, i got chills listening to that verse. I’d give it a solid 4.

“Before I even start my review of this album, let me state this now. I love J. Cole and the whole Dreamville group and everything they stand for. I personally think J. Cole is the best rapper out right now, yes that means better than Kendrick. With that said, I’ll try to keep my bias to a minimum.”

Write a review for us and show him how it’s done. Every writer shows bias when they write, it’s part of the terrirtory if w are being honest.
*Fuck THis keyboar sucks. Srry if I mssed any of the typos*

First off, i had a hard time reading this review without getting a “fanboy” “stan” feeling throughout the entire piece. That’s also coming from someone who would call J. Cole my favorite rapper out of all of the new school rappers.

But to everyone calling this LP classic i just can’t see it, after sitting with it for two weeks now. I think it’s a very good album, but for the second album in a row just fell short of classic material. Technically as a rapper, i’d say Jermaine is more sound of a lyricist then his peers, so even his B+ bars are better then everything else that’s dropped for the most part this year. The album is slightly underwhelming to me,and after each listen i felt like something was missing. That was until i heard the extra verse he performed on Letterman, no exaggeration here when i say that, that verse was better then the entire album, i got chills listening to that verse. I’d give it a solid 4.

“Before I even start my review of this album, let me state this now. I love J. Cole and the whole Dreamville group and everything they stand for. I personally think J. Cole is the best rapper out right now, yes that means better than Kendrick. With that said, I’ll try to keep my bias to a minimum.”

Write a review for us and show him how it’s done. Every writer shows bias when they write, it’s part of the terrirtory if w are being honest.
*Fuck THis keyboar sucks. Srry if I mssed any of the typos*

Fuck everyone who says this is better than Cadillactica. Y’all just don’t get KRIT and his originality and content. Critics largely agree too, Cadillactica was more stand out. People need to hop off Cole’s dick, and actually dissect KRITs lyrics and flow. Trust me

Fuck everyone who says this is better than Cadillactica. Y’all just don’t get KRIT and his originality and content. Critics largely agree too, Cadillactica was more stand out. People need to hop off Cole’s dick, and actually dissect KRITs lyrics and flow. Trust me